Over at Bomberland, it's fair to say the past couple of weeks turned into a "train-off" to see which player the club would take with their only selection in today's pre-season draft.

Essendon had to choose between Gippsland Power's Will Hams, Swan Districts teen Dayle Garlett, Claremont's Shannon Taylor, Subiaco forward Chris Deluca and South Australian Steven Baldasso ... and in the end went with Hams, a left-footed midfielder who averaged 11.5 disposals in four games for Vic Country at the NAB AFL under-18 championships.

"He has the courage to play inside and out and has also demonstrated that he has good goal sense," Essendon's list manager Adrian Dodoro told the club's website today.

No doubt the courageous Hams will make a good fist of his opportunity at AFL level. But are there any Essendon fans out there disappointed the club didn't take a punt on Garlett, an elite talent who apparently enjoys a smoke and a drink?

Remember me? Brent Staker in action for the Lions during the 2011 season. Photo: Paul Harris

After the debacle of 2009, it's not surprising that Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss has been fairly conservative in the past couple of drafts and trade weeks. In today's pre-season and rookie drafts, the Lions used just the two picks — number six in the rookie draft, which they used on medium-sized forward Nicholas Hayes (Woodville West-Torrens, SA) and number 21 in the rookie draft, used to redraft the delisted Callum Bartlett.

Of Hayes, the Lions' national talent manager Rob Kerr told the club's website: "Nick is a very clever and courageous footballer who our South Australian scouts identified early in the year and showed great improvement when playing SANFL U18s. As a player, he's a forward who should graduate into someone who can play through the midfield. We rated him so highly that we almost took him with our third round draft choice at the National Draft — so are delighted that we have managed to have our cake and eat it too."

Bartlett, originally drafted by the Lions in 2009, has endured a wretched run with injury. He's had to endure two knee reconstructions in his three seasons with the Lions and is still to make his debut, but is highly-rated within the club. Fair to say 2013 is a make or break season for the former Geelong Falcons star.

And don't forget the Lions' other new recruit for 2013 ... a bloke by the name of Brent Staker. Okay, okay, so he's not exactly a NEW recruit, but he's played so little football because of injury in the past couple of years that he's almost a new face around the club. Did we mention he was picked up by the Lions in the debacle of 2009?

11:41am on 11 Dec 2012

So, here's one of the questions of the day for mine. Have the Swans departed from their proven good ways by snaring Kurt Tippett, a player heading to Harbour Town on seriously good coin. Will he be a successful pick-up for them, a player who can help them win another premiership? Is it a move away from their well-established "no ..." recruiting policy? Time will tell no doubt. It's also fascinating that the Swans have taken a punt on Brandon Jack, the younger brother of Kieren. Certainly the Sydney premiership player was rapt to see younger bro join him at the Swans:

Jonathon Ceglar came off worse for wear in a clash with Darren Jolly at Collingwood training during the 2012 season. Photo: Vince Caligiuri

Talking to all you Hawthorn fans out there now. Just the one selection for the Hawks, and they chose to add to their ruck stocks by picking up delisted Collingwood ruckman Jonathon Ceglar. It's an interesting choice by the Hawks, who will this season welcome back injury-cursed ruckman Max Bailey, who will likely fill the number one ruck role handled admirably by David Hale during the 2012 season. Forward Jarryd Roughead can also pinch hit in the ruck.

Outside that, there's very little AFL experience in the ruck for the Hawks. Both Sam Grimley (drafted in 2009) and Luke Lowden (drafted in 2008) are yet to make their AFL debut, and a punt on former Richmond ruckman Adam Pattison went amiss for the Hawks last season when the big man struggled with injury. Pattinson has since been delisted.

You would think that the likelihood of Ceglar, Grimley and Lowden all remaining on the Hawks' list beyond 2013 is minimal to zero, so there's going to be some interesting battles at Box Hill over the next 12 months to see which of the trio can establish themselves at VFL level.

So what do the Richmond fans out there think of the club's decision to take a punt on three delisted players in today's rookie draft? The Tigers have taken former Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd, former Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan and discarded Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson in what could be termed a minor shock.

Stay with theage.com.au and realfooty.com.au throughout the day as we analyse just what it all means. You'll also be able to read the thoughts on club officials and new (and relocated) players. Draft expert Emma Quayle will feature in our special video show, ready on the website later today, and you'll also be able to read her expert analysis this afternoon.

Is this the first ruck coach to be drafted by their club? The Magpies pick up the evergreen Ben Hudson with selection No.52 in the rookie draft. Great to see the 'People's Beard' end up on another AFL list or, as least, the secondary part of it. Collingwood also goes for Peter Yagmoor with pick 56.

Former Bulldog, former Lion ... now a Magpie. Ruckman Ben Hudson has staved off retirement for a second successive year after being taken by Collingwood with pick 52 in the rookie draft. Photo: Craig Abraham

The Bulldogs have picked up Brett Goodes at number 4 in the rookie draft. It means Brent Prismall has missed out, as predicted by Jake Niall in today's Age. Goodes will be 29 by next season. Next year's Podsiadly!

Gippsland Power midfielder Will Hams has been taken by Essendon with pick seven in the pre-season draft. Photo: AFL Media

The pre-season draft is done and dusted. Goes quick, hey? The Giants use the No.12 selection on Dean Brogan. With Essendon opting for William Hams, that means the Bombers have shied away from Western Australian teenager Dayle Garlett. At least for a main list spot.

10:20am on 11 Dec 2012

And there's the man of the moment. Kurt Tippett is officially a Sydney Swans player and he was picked up by the reigning premiers with the No.11 selection in the pre-season draft. No surprises there!

Kurt Tippett ... the former Adelaide forward is now officially a Sydney Swan. Even if we won't see him in action for the first half of next season.

10:11am on 11 Dec 2012

We're away with the selections. Bret Thornton goes to the GWS Giants with the No.1 pre-season pick. The Western Bulldogs pass with the second selection.

Bret Thornton was taken with the first pick in the AFL pre-season draft. The former Carlton defender joins GWS for 2013. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo

10:00am on 11 Dec 2012

It's draft day. No not the main AFL draft but the league's pre-season and rookie drafts. The day clubs finalise their lists for the 2013 AFL premiership season. Aside from Kurt Tippett going to the Sydney Swans, the other notable name will probably be Brett Goodes, the younger of Adam who is likely to be drafted to the Bulldogs. Read more HERE. And see the draft selections as they happen HERE.